South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-Won Resigns Over Sewol Ferry Disaster
Chung Hong-won says he must go for the sake of the government amid heavy criticism of response to Sewol sinking.
By Sadho Ram — 27 Apr 2014, 11:03 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
'Cries Of Those Still Missing Keep Me Up At Night', Says South Korea PM
The prime minister of South Korea has offered his resignation over the ferry disaster that has left hundreds confirmed or presumed dead, saying "the cries of those still missing keep me up at night".
Saying that the cries of the kins of those missing still didn't let him sleep at night, he said, "Witnessing the pains of families of the victims and grief and anger of the people, I think the right thing for me to do is to take all responsibility and resign". Justifying his resignation, he said that staying as the PM will only be a burden to the administration.
Meanwhile, South Korea's president has accepted her prime minister's resignation over the government's handling of a deadly ferry sinking. Park Geun-hye did not set a last day in office for Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, who offered his resignation today and blamed "deep-rooted evils" in society for the tragedy, which has left more than 300 people dead or missing.
The South Korean Prime Minister Offered His Resignation After Criticism Of The Govt.'s Response To The 16 April Sewol Ferry Disaster
The Resignation Comes Amid Rising Indignation Over Claims By The Victims' Relatives That The Govt. Didn't Do Enough To Rescue Or To Protect Their Loved Ones
A man holds a candle near a banner showing the sunken ferry Sewol during candlelight vigil for safe return of passengers of the sunken ferry Sewol in Ansan, South Korea, Friday, April 25, 2014
Image via nationalpost.comChung Hong-Won Announced His Resignation Sunday During An Emergency Press Conference In Seoul
Chung Hong-won, shown addressing a street protest over the response to the Sewol ferry disaster, has resigned as South Korea's prime minister
Image via guim.co.uk"Keeping my post is too great a burden on the administration," a sombre Chung said in a brief announcement. "On behalf of the government, I apologise for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster. There are too many irregularities and malpractices in parts of society that have been with us too long and I hope those are corrected so that accidents like this will not happen again."
theguardian.com
Chung Was Booed And Someone Threw A Water Bottle At Him When He Visited Grieving Parents The Day After The Disaster
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won (left, in glasses) is shielded by his bodyguards from a bottle of water thrown by an angry relative of passengers on the capsized ferry Sewol. Another family member slapped a government official as he delivered an update on the situation
Image via joy105.comThe Resignation Offer By Prime Minister Chung Hong-Won Appears To Be Largely Symbolic As South Korean Executive Power Is Concentrated In The President, Park Geun-hye. The Resignation Has To Be Approved By Her.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye met the families of the Sewol ferry missing passengers
Image via bellenews.comSouth Korean executive power is largely concentrated in the president, Park Geun-hye, so the resignation offer by Prime Minister Chung Hong-won appears to be largely symbolic. There was no immediate word from Park about whether she would accept Chung's resignation.
dailymail.co.ukPresident Park Geun-hye will decide whether to accept the resignation after thorough consideration, her office said.
yonhapnews.co.kr
South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye (C) meets relatives of missing passengers on board the capsized ferry 'Sewol'
Image via says.comPresident Park was also booed by some of the relatives of the missing when she visited a gym where families of the missing were staying.
aljazeera.com
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-Won Had To Be Shielded By Bodyguards When He Visited Angry Relatives Of Missing Passengers In Jindo
The Confirmed Death Toll On Sunday Was 187 With Another 100 Still Missing. All Crew Members Involved In The Ferry's Navigation Have Been Arrested.
South Korean Buddhists pray during a Buddhist ceremony for cherishing the memory of deceased persons and safe return of passengers of the sunken ferry Sewol, in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2014
Image via dailymail.co.ukAll 15 people who were responsible for navigating the ferry when it sank on April 16 have been arrested, accused of negligence and of failing to help passengers in need. Divers have recovered 187 bodies and 115 people are believed to be missing, though the government-wide emergency task force has said the ship's passengers list could be inaccurate, The Associated Press reported. Only 174 people survived, including 22 of the 29 crew members. Many of the victims were high school students on the ferry for a field trip.
go.comWhat Has Also Taken A Toll On The Korean Psyche Are The Alleged Acts Of Cowardice, Callousness And Cruel Hoaxes, Reports ABCNews
In the days after the ferry sank, families were tormented with hoax text messages claiming to be from students trapped in air pockets complaining that they were cold, but still alive. A woman posed as one of the divers trying to rescue the trapped passengers was exposed as a fraud.
go.comA photo of a government official sitting on a chair to eat ramen while the families of the ferry victims were eating on the floor circulated on South Korean social media and criticism poured in.
nationalpost.com
A second official from the ministry of security and public administration came under even more criticism for posing for a self-promoting photo in front of the list of the dead at the gymnasium where families were sheltered. That official was suspended and then allowed to resign. The response to the sinking has forced the nation to reassess what Korea has become.
go.com